A Conservative MP has found himself at the centre of a Syrian propaganda row
after hackers allegedly infiltrated his email account and sent a message
hailing Bashar al-Assad and the British colonial era.

In the email, Rory Stewart, MP for Penrith and the Border, was shown to apparently dismiss Syrian pleas for democracy, saying “democracy abroad has nothing to do with democracy in the UK”.

It also made Colonialist references to the opposition as “incorrigible children, reckless and colour-blind", echoing T E Lawrence, the British Army officer who acted as a liaison during the Arab revolt against the Ottoman empire.

The mystery deepened with an apparent response from a Syrian embassy official using the email as justification for the Assad regime continuing its fight against a transition to democracy.

"Even a leading member of the British Houses of Parliament (mother of democracy?) Foreign Affairs Committee understands why the Ba’ath party must continue to lead the Syrian nation. Russia and China have strong governments that serve all their people, just as we in Syria have. Who needs democracy?" the response read.

The forged email, sent in May, was subsequently “leaked” to the Independent newspaper, which exposed the message as a fake after attempting to trace the sender.

After speaking to the Syrian embassy in London, it was discovered that Mohammed Nassar – a supposed foreign diplomat who had forwarded the emails – had never worked there nor did his name appear on any lists of foreign diplomats based in the capital.

A staff member at the embassy said: "There is no one called Mohammed Nassar working here; someone is using our email address falsely. We don't know anything about it but it looks like the opposition playing tricks."

Mr Stewart, who was alarmed to find his name on the emails, expressed “surprise and concern” at the discovery and said he was now having his account checked.

He added: “I have not really spoken publicly much about Syria at all. I do recall getting an email from someone with a different name back in April.

"I replied saying that I fully agree that what Assad was doing was abhorrent and he should go. But this should be done through diplomatic means. I said that I did not think that the British Government should get involved militarily and that we should not get involved in arming the rebels. I certainly did not quote Lawrence in any way."